For my Twinkie

So you may have noticed recently that Tina has been doing the majority of the posting around here. This is because I have encountered a few hiccups along the way and just when I think I was getting a "routine" established and going to get some crafty time....life decided to take over. And, my Twinkie, true to form said "you take care of what you need to take care of - I got this" and....she does!

Tonight for the first time in almost 2 weeks I was able to sneak a little time in my woman cave and I made this....for my Twinkie....



Because she truly is a Friend that I am lucky to have!

Lovely stamps (and two of my newest) was used in the making of this card M29 Rosebud Heart Swirl and F140 Friends. I can see me using these quite a bit in the future.


Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Christmas polka dots

*blogger note....
Sorry guys, but I'm gonna take over the blog for awhile by myself...I know ya'll are gonna miss Wendy's humor and beautiful cards but she is dealing with a family emergency....so ya gotta put up with a steady diet of me for a bit. ;)

 Please include Wendy's family in your prayers or just send good vibes her way if that's more your thing...Thanks!!



There are some card designs that we are so comfortable with that we tend to do them over and over and over and over again...This is my warm safe comfy blankie of a design

I generally have the "band" up a little higher...I was just off when I stamped this little goodie. ohh well, it still turned out cute ;)

It's such a fast and easy design...I couldn't resist making it into a Christmas card! The meduim polka dot background stamp is so fun to use, notice how many I have a the bottom? It's because of the way the stamp is made...I was able to fully stamp the panel in green and then ink it up in red and stamp it all over again.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Happy Birthday to a friend

I got to thinking (I know, I'm still in shock myself) about a birthday card for a friend. I was thinking that all her cards are going to be alike and say happy birthday on the front, balloons or a cake or something birthday related. Well, I decided to make something that would stand out as different...kinda like myself lol. ;)

I decided on black and purples for my colors and pulled out some of my all time favorite stamps. I wrote the appropriate birthday greeting on the inside...but sometimes you have show your true "spots" and to dare to be different....

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING



Even fanatics need some time off...that being said, Wendy and I are concentrating on family and some yummy-licious Thanksgiving festivities so we won't be back until Monday. But never fear bloggers, we wouldn't leave you with an adorable DeNami project.....

I originally made this for the "Anything but a card" hop and nixed it. However, it does look kinda cute in the middle of my coffee table....

  
I just covered a tp tube with chocolate paper and added some Marvy scallop circles. Then just started gluing strips. To hide the ends I added more scallop circles...EASY PEASY!! Not only are the darling stamps on the strips from DeNami but the leaves are also. I stamped and cut apart the large leaf.
After I put it all together I thought it needed a little more texture. I had every intention of taking it apart and running the unstamped strips thru my cuttlebug for a little dry embossing....just not enough hours in my day so it is what it is at this point... ;)

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Sooooo....What did I decide on?

If you will recall in the post HERE...

I was waiting for the postal service to deliver my long awaited goody box from DeNami (oh it was all the PO's fault too - grrrr). So after getting my package, then came the agonizing choice....which stamp do I choose? I had several that would have worked and I kept picking up this one...then that one...then picking this one up again and then the other....but eventually I settled on this....






So....whatcha think?




Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Sometimes having no idea is a good idea

I didn't even have a plan for this card...Seriously, nothing...I was simply just staring at the handful of stamps laying on my desk wondering what to do. I had a pre-made cut out thingie laying there and started playing with it, was sure I wasn't going to use it, but I like the shape and coloring so I stamped it and decided that yes, it totaly is usable! Basically, I made the card to match the silly little tag...now only if I could remember where it came from so I could get more....!

Want a closer look...you can see the 3 line border stamp on the bottom panel a little better.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

And how is this helping me get caught up on Thanksgiving cards???

Once in a while an idea just pops into my head outta nowhere. I was trying to get caught up on my Thanksgiving cards...I'm behind as usual! I started out making this card and planning to put the darling pumpkin trio border as my focal point, but after making the background panel and adhering it, my mind simply switched gears. I dug out a much under used wonderful stamp and wellllllla....

I love this wreath...it's so pretty. I've never done ribbon in this way, don't know what possessed me to, but I'm kinda liking it, and instead of the 2 bows I was going to do, I opted for some DeNami buttons (which I heart)...whatcha think, yea or nae?

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Just Because....

I don't think you can ever have too many "any occasion" type cards. I like to have them on hand so I can grab, write, and mail at a moments notice. I like them simple yet pretty.




A closer peek:



And this little cutie....2 stamps - Voila!

Stamps used: D75 Small Daisy, F172 Hello Friend


Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Thanksgiving is almost here...

Thanksgiving is almost here and I'm not even close to being ready! There are cards to be sent out and I just checked my stash...I'm in trouble! I had to get busy...

A little closer look...

 One down and many many more to go....sigh, why do Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas have to come so close together???



Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

A Holiday Work In Progress....

So, as you know, I have been trying to come up with the 2011 Holiday Card. I was putzing around in my Woman Cave and came up with this little cutie.




Come a little closer...



Now I know, the bottom half needs a little "something" and I have that something on order but alas....the post office is not cooperating with my posting scheduled! I may need to have a little talk with the Postmaster General about this little situation....so until then I will give you my "work in progress". Wanna guess what the bottom stamp is gonna be? Go ahead...take a guess.

Stamps used (so far until I get my package): I50 Holly Cluster, J133 Decorative Flourish

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Chickies and pumkins make for a cute stamp

I truly puffy heart chickies and I love the whimsical design of the DeNami pumpkins, so when you put them together....you get ADORABLE!

A little closer look...

How can you not love this little guy??? I can honestly say that when I started making this card I had no plan what-so-ever but I really like the outcome.


Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Time to Blog Hop

Oh I do love these little hops....oh yes I do!


If you are following along in order then you have arrived here from the blog of the uber-talented Lisa Petrella.

Now, when I heard the theme for this hop, my mind started running on high gear. Should I do this? Or perhaps that? Oh and what about this idea? I started making my list and checking it twice (oh wait - that's next month...haha). But eventually I settled on these two little ideas.

First off - is a Candle Holder (or Candy holder). Now, keep in mind if you want to use this as a candle holder (and it works out quite well) you want to make sure that you are using FLAMELESS candles. This is very important otherwise your hard work may start a very unwanted and unwelcomed fire....don't ask me how I know this...just trust me....



Now I wanted to do a little close up on these because the picture really isn't doing it justice. Can't you just picture this little dish filled with holiday candy?




My second idea (cause I couldn't decide which one to use) is.....wait for it....wait for it....OK go look....

WRAPPING PAPER! That's right - why not make your own wrapping paper, especially with the holidays coming up! These two little goodies? They are gifts that will be making their way to my Twinkie this holiday season. Of course this is just a tease for her as she has to wait for Christmas to open them up! HAHAHA! (yes, I love giving just a little tease for goodies to come - that's how I roll!).



Now of course why wait for the just the holidays. You could always use ANY of the other Denami stamps to make a cute baby wrapping paper, or birthday, or any occasion.

Now don't forget, like in all of the hops, leave some blogger love in the form of a comment so you can be eligible for those yummy Denami Prizes!

If you get lost along the way just head on over to the DENAMI BLOG and start again.

Next up, the wonderful EMILY KEATON




Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!know!

monochromatic pumpkin trio

So I started out wanting to make a monochromatic (now that's a $12 word...whew!) with just the little bow bringing in the pop of color...

But as usual I was a little undecided because I thought my bow wasn't enough color...it kinda blended with the color. I was gonna change the bow to a solid orange one but I listened to hubby and colored in the pumpkins instead. I just hate when he's right....

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Me and Wendy are truly what she calls "Twinkies"

*insert Twilight Zone music* They say that everyone has a twin somewhere in the world. Yup, Wendy & I have found ours! We're like a pair of twins that were separated at birth but still like and do the same things...just makes ya wonder don't it?

I mean, heck, we even have the SAME kitty!! Check out her Squeaker and my Tabby...

  Tabby (on the right) came to us as a stray kitten about 13 years ago and Squeaker is just a young'in that showed up one day looking for a kind heart.

This isn't the first time we've caught ourselves being on the same wave length...our love for all things DeNami & there's that little flamingo issue and just a couple of weeks ago we figured out that we are using the exact same personalized sticky note design....Hmmm, that could be bad on her part, thinking like me and all ;)

So anyway, I was writing a couple of posts and decided to take a sneeky peek at what my buddy had been up to....I saw a little card that she just did a post on that was way similar to this one that was drying on my desk...

Hers turned out much cuter, but wow, still coming up with such similar cards at the same time...SPOOKY!

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Giving Thanks.....

OK OK....I know I have been working a lot on my Christmas card idea but that's because I have already chosen my Turkey day card.....so let me share it with ya....



Wanna see it closer?



It is simple. It is glittery. It has crystal laquer. And best of all...It.Has.CHICKIES!! That is all I need....

Stamps used in this card: PF49 Thanksgiving Chickies Petit Four Set, B95 Mini Swirl Flourish, J141 Whimsical Oval Frame


Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

My second attempt at finding "the" 2011 Holiday card....

As I mentioned before, I am in search of the "2011 Holiday Card" and with each day that passes by without a design....well...I feel just a itty bitty teeny weenie bit of stress....juuuust right there in the left shoulder...and its growing. Once I have the idea...I can breathe a sigh of relief. BUT....the longer it takes me to find it...the simpler the idea so I can create the in mass. So, this is what I came up with after the chickies.....




Come a little closer...



I purposfully tilted the close up so you could get the full effect of the stickles on the snowman. I also added a few stickers (from another company...but in my defense...Denami doesn't have stickers....so...there! HA!) as an accent. They are shimmery too but its hard to see in the photo. Also, I layered the snowman on navy cardstock. In the photo it looks black but its navy to accent the lighter blue with the sentiment.

So....tell me....what do you think about this one? Or should I go back to the Chickies? OR should I go back to the Woman Cave and find another idea (or steal an idea from my Twinkie)? Tell me...tell me.

Stamps used in this card: J71 Block Snowman, P40 Joys of the Season, G93 Medium Lacy Flake


Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Snow....already????

Have you ever had card idea in the middle of the night? I must dream about making cards cause I do all the time! The other night I had to jump out of bed and make a sketch for a little guy I've had safely tucked away. I can't even imagine why I was thinking about this stamp since I'm not even close to being ready to start my Christmas cards yet. The next day I figured I might as well make the card I lost so much sleep over. My sketch called for a little tag with a sentiment hanging from the bow...I'm on the fence about it though, I didn't want to take away from the snowflakes.

I think it turned out great, I just wish my pictures were better...the card base is actually Navy...not black. Need a little closer look??

I started with a Navy cardstock base and layered the DeNami iridescent silver cardstock & a layer of white cardstock. For the top panel I used Versa Mark and white heat embossing powder on white cardstock then ink distressed it and finished it all off with a sheer silver iridescent ribbon/bow and a little secret I found that will make anything shimmer just perfectly....

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Well if my Twinkie can use a Daisy....

Then I guess that gives me permission to use it again too! HA!




A close-up....



The bow was a little....twisted....but I got tired of fussing with it so I left it as it was. I think it adds a little personality. Well, that's my story anyway and I am gonna stick to it!

Stamps used in this card....J77 Large Daisy, PF26 Assorted Greetings Petit Four Set


Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Everything is just daisies...or so I thought!

You ever do something the hard way and then later (24hrs in this case) think "DUH, I'm such an idot!"? This card is my testiment to my just not thinking it through. I had a vision in my head and just ran with it versus stopping and looking at it from all angles. I made a little extra work for myself, but in the end it turned out just like I envisioned so I guess all is well, right...well, except fot the fact that I'm an idiot? ;)

Well, here's the card...

A little closer look so you can see the button stamped back ground...

I was making this card for a challenge on a blog I visit regularly. I knew exactly what I wanted to do when they announced the color pallete and button embellishment theme. Where I went wrong was with the main focal point. I knew I wanted the flowers to pop so I wanted to emboss them. The only colored embossing powders I had on hand were black, white and a silver sparkly one...hmm, not good. I tried stamping my stems in my regular ink and very quickly threw on some clear embossing powder...just as I thought, it didn't work. I stamped/masked and stamped again for my flowers in a regular ink. I then restamped everything using a stampin-ma-jig and Versa-mark, embossing them with the clear powder. I had to do the stems and flowers seperately so the powder didnt get knocked off while trying to position the second stamping...UGGG, what a pain!! Now here's where I'm a complete idiot. As I was writting the post on my personal blog for this challange, It FINALLY dawned on me..."crap, I have a versa-mark and an embossing pen! What an idiot I am!!" Yes folks, could have saved a lot of time and agrivation and gotten the same result...live and learn. I'm not perfect and will never claim to be lol, but I will remember this and remember that I have those pens from now on ;)

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Its beginning to look a lot like.....

OK OK I won't say it.....I mean....Halloween was just over yesterday....but really, this is the beginning of a complete season for me....I call it MY TIME! Craft and holiday shows are in full swing. I start all of my holiday planning for baking, gift giving, decorating, etc (I plan ahead - I do a little each day or at least try to so I don't feel overwhelmed - I must be in complete control during this time...complete and total control.....just sayin'). Yes, I get neurotic but its a fun kind of neurotic. So, with that in mind, I have been having trouble coming up with my Christmas card design this year. Usually by this time I have the idea, all the supplies and a few test cards to make sure it comes out right. This year...NADA. This is not good as it throws the rest of the "schedule" off track. So, as I was in the woman cave last week I started playing and came up with this cutie....







Chickies.....they just make me smile! Not sure if I am going to use this as the "official" card. I have a few more in mind. I may just put them all in one post and let you help me decide.....

Stamps used in this card: C65 Santa Chickie, TR14 Candies Stamp Set, J112 Chickie Tree


Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!